I got to my room and dumped everything from my suitcase to my suit on the bed before crashing beside it. I was so tired from the meetings and outings I had but I still haven’t recovered from the shock I experienced at the bar. Before I left, people already showed up to clean up the scattered place and when I announced my departure, she slipped a business card in my pocket and told me to keep in touch. “Who exactly is she? I feel so uneasy about her” I kept whispering to myself before fishing out her card to see her name as Jenny “Je… eenn … nny” I dragged out her name, flipping the card through my fingers I decided to forget about the event and dialed Petal’s number instead. I had the intention of calling her immediately I got to my room but the incident that happened made me forgot totally. Even though I was not sure if she would pick up my call, I decided to try it once to check my luck and she did pick it up. “Is there something I should do or send over?” was her first response
I got to work the following morning as usual and after a while, I got hungry. It was then I realized that I didn’t eat dinner the last night thanks to certain someone.“I don’t think I can hold on till lunch time, I need to get myself something” I murmured to myself and went to the break room to get some coffee and biscuits but I met something shocking.The break room was so empty. Nothing was there except the utensils and equipment. Every edible things had been cleared off.“Did something happen here? Why is everywhere so empty?” I asked, looking around but no one gave me any answer to my questions.They all pretended to be so busy all of a sudden and I knew that they weren’t ready to answer so I just stopped and went back to my seat.The thought of waiting till lunch time so I could visit the cafeteria was too traumatizing because hunger was taking the best part of me but I knew I had no choice at that point so I braced myself to endure the agonizing torment of hunger.“Excuse me!”
They were all surprised that he suddenly popped out of the office since they were not expecting him to be around at that time. He was supposed to come in with the evening flight after all.“When did you come back sir? We weren’t expecting you” Tina sprang up out of shock“I decided to come in with the night flight since my schedule ended faster than expected and that shouldn’t be a problem right?” he answered and Tina shook her head quickly“Not at all” she answered swiftly and turned to me “Miss Petals. You have to wait behind and see me before closing for the day” and went back inside his office. It was then I realized that he must have seen when they packed up the break room just to get me frustrated since they noticed that I loved everything in the break room.“He really went out of his way” I muttered and a smile lurked around the corner of my lips as I watched him go even though I couldn’t help but wonder why he wanted me to stay back.Everyone left for their homes immediately
One Saturday, after coming back from the gym, I decided to have my shower before any other thing even though I was extremely tired. The week had been quite busy and exhausting for me because of the sudden increase in so much news to deal with but I didn’t want to skip my exercise routine before I got a scolding message from Ray who was always strict and appreciated consistency.“You are finally home today, I feel like it’s been up to a month I saw you” I said to Mei who came out of her room with a loud yawnCurling into the couch, she also responded with a tired voice. “I know right. I have been here and there that we barely see and you don’t even text. Why do you never text me?” she attacked, suddenly springing up“You hate it” I answered, grabbing the jug of water“You don’t even bother to do it. You seems to love it when you don’t hear from your troublesome sister I guess” she attacked continuouslyMy eyes rolled at her words, “You certainly know that it’s not like that” I tried de
I didn’t know why she was bent at making me stay over for the night but I could sense fear from her gaze and actions. “Is something wrong, Pamela?” I asked, finding the courage to move closer to her I was confused at first, I thought she was making some weird advances at me but when I calmed down enough to watch her with a clear thinking, I knew there was something behind her plea. “Come with me” she invited and took the lead We walked into the deep part of her kitchen and I saw her window shattered on the ground. A gasp flew out of my mouth at the sight of the mess in front of me. “Jesus Christ! Did someone try to break in?” I asked, rushing forward but she pulled me back by my clothes “Don’t step on the broken glass, you might get hurt” she cautioned and I stepped back just like she had said. I was too anxious because of the sight that I was not thinking straight about the possibilities of the glass piercing my feet “Ah true, I must have been surprised seeing all the mess” I
Amanda went to get some things for the other departments and overhead them discussing about how Stanley put a call through the HR and told them to fill their department’s break room to the brim with coffees and snacks of different kinds. She pretended not to care or listen but carefully tapped every of their conversations before rushing back to the office to pour them out for Tina and co.“Great news! You all wouldn’t believe what I heard from where I was coming from” she announced as soon as she came back into the office and they all gathered to have a piece of the information she brought to share.“I think the CEO was aware that we were the ones that packed up the snacks from the break room and do you know what he did next?” she startedTina cut in “What did he do?” Bea also added “Don’t tell me he….” Covering her mouth and Bea snapped her fingers at her words“That’s it! He was the one that ordered for everything that was brought in yesterday” she confessed“Wow” Bea exclaimed, he
Two men walked briskly into the same restaurant Irene, Monica and Petals were but no one noticed them since everyone was busy with their food but upon their entrance, the employees started to panic.“They are here again” the first waitress said to the other and a very tired and deep sigh escaped her lips“I wonder why they keep coming back when they complain about one thing or the other every time” she remarked, trying to turn back and leave for the kitchen but one of them was quick to beckon on her“I guess you will be the one to serve them today” the first one remarked, disappearing as fast as she could.“Those insatiable scoundrel” she cursed under her breath before turning back to their sideShe summoned up courage and went to meet them at their table in order to take in whatever order they might have but as the distance between them became shorter, her pressure rose and she couldn’t hide her fear anymore.“Can you take our order? We will like to have number eleven, five and seven
After dropping the call, I felt weird. The gravity of what I had concluded gradually started to dawn on me and I knew I had flunked a very big opportunity. I could have asked for an interview with the chairman in exchange for taking down the article but I knew my conscience wouldn’t let me rest afterward. As if Stanley had been waiting for an opportunity to mock me, he sent for me immediately and pointed to the couch for me to have my seat, which I did with a trembling body. I knew what was to come from him and I just had to prepare myself thoroughly. “I heard you refused to take down the article” he started and my left hand found its way to the top of my right one, pinching all the fingers orderly as I tried to ease my nervousness “Ah… Yes sir. I did tell them to leave the article on our home page” I responded, my head hung low Even if I would be bracing myself up for whatever banters he would throw, looking up to see his expression and mocking face would make it worse and unbeara
Ray finally proposed to Mei who agreed right away and they planned to leave Lisbon but she couldn’t due to the contract she had signed with Pamela. She didn’t know that she wouldn’t be able to break off the contract for three years. Pamela did that because she knew the price of their stocks would be affected when her father’s crime is exposed but with the success of Mei in the modelling world, she would be able to sustain the company over the three years when it would be balanced and would let her go.“That’s some crazy contract” Ray remarked and tried looking for a way to pay the fine so she would be free but Mei told him that she wanted to help her in return because she gave up her company to help them solve the case so he had no choice but to retreat.Pamela explained that she can go anywhere she wanted but must be always available to carry out her the terms of the contract whenever she was needed.“That is no problem. We both have to find a common ground. She has to finish school
FEW HOURS AGOMei was summoned by Pamela to her office and was given a necklace as a gift for her successful oversea deal. She expressed her happiness about how she was raking in so much money for her company because of her excellent modeling skills.“Well, I only tried my best but it worked out by luck” Mei said meekly“There’s no such thing as luck. You only got to show the work you have prepared hard for, so you deserve every credit” she told her and Mei appreciated her for the gift before leaving for the house where she saw Stanley waiting for herStanley took her to his villa after apologizing for not coming sooner to explain things to her. He told her everything about her sister to her when he found out that she also know that her sister was not biologically related to her.“Can I speak to her? Can I talk to her on the phone? She would have been worried sick about me” she said with a shaky voice and Stanley put a call through which was luckily picked up by her sister.They were
TOLU’S POVI was preparing to wash off the sweat of the day and was battling with my robe’s rope when Ray burst into my room unannounced. In horror, I jumped under the blanket, my eyes shining hard as I questioned why he would come inside without knocking but he only apologized and came in further.“I found it!” he screamed and my face frowned in confusion, what was he talking about all of a sudden? My pressurized brain couldn’t process anything. I just wanted him to get out of my room so I can take my bath before heat strangle me under the blanket.“Found what?” I snapped angrily at him“The evidence!” he screamed and I didn’t know when I rolled out of the sheet, the robe dropping off my body“Cover your damn body!” he screamed, covered his eyes and turned away.It was then I realized that I was standing in front of him in my birthday suit. With a loud gasp, I bent and pulled my robe up, tying it tightly across my waist.“It’s covered, now show me the evidence you are talking about”
Since Petals was not in a good state of mind and would be away for the time being, they were short of hand and Ray suggested that they bring in Tolu as a helping hand since she was capable and already told them to let her know when her help was needed.“She’s also good at sniffing out information” Stanley added“I know right. She had this detective spirit ever since we were little” Ray remarked, a slight chuckle dancing in his throatAs soon as Petals’ plane took off, he went to the arrivals and waited a bit before Tolu that he had been waiting for showed up. She was the first to sight him and waved towards his direction to get his attention.“Thank you for coming all the way here and I am sorry for the inconveniences it might have caused” he said with a grin and a smile appeared on her lips“What do you mean by inconveniences? I actually lived all these while for this moment. Let’s go catch the bad guys” she remarked and left for the car with him.Gabriel walked towards them and got
It took a whole week for Gemma to come to her senses. She always cowered in fear whenever anyone came close to her, even to the point of food. They had to leave her food on the table and disappear from the surroundings before she could eat peacefully.“I shouldn’t have shouted at her and startled her that way” Petals kept blaming herself and hoped that she would come back to her senses soon because she almost died of the curiosity of how Jane was not the sibling she thought she had.During those times, Stanley had successfully gotten her a temporary guidance permit for Pureza and she was able to transfer him out of the hospital to the place she trusted so he could get the ultimate and proper treatment he deserved.“Just take it slow. We have gotten to this point and we will find out everything till the end so put your mind at rest and just approach them one by one” Stanley consoled her when he noticed how tensed and anxious she was every time.Finally, after a week, Gemma was back to
They were all at home in the evening when a news of a body being found near the burnt orphanage and the guess was that the body must have belonged to one of the children in the orphanage because it was the built of a child. They also stated that some of the organs were missing which gave room for the suspicions of organ trafficking.Stanley rushed up immediately and ran inside one of the rooms where he kept the pictures. Since she was also curious and he wouldn’t come out to tell them why he ran inside, she rushed to the room too to check what was happening.“Did something happen? Did you find out about something?” she asked, staring at her“The news reminded me of a case I found out while I was making some research. There was a time when the case of organ trafficking was so rampant and they were kids. Their corpses were found at different locations but they had one thing in common and that was missing organs” he explained, flipping through the old newspaper in his hand“So do you thi
Michael and Gabriel went out to club and were busy dancing and drinking when someone said a foul language to Michael whom he thought didn’t understood the language. They both fought and were arrested by the police, then Michael was asked to provide his passport but refused.“Why is he not presenting his passport? Did he perhaps lost it?” Stanley asked on their way to the police station“I’m not sure he did that and I don’t know why he’s so adamant. It’s tiring” Gabriel sighed“He might have his reasons. He wouldn’t just act without a plan” Petals chipped inNo matter what anyone said, Michael kept denying that he had a passport. He said he was an illegal immigrant and there was nothing Stanley could do at that point. He was to be sent to the detention center and deported when his identity has been confirmed.“Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine” he said to Gabriel who kept panicking after hearing that he would be detained“Croyez-moi mo frére, mon chien n’aboie pas sans voir quelque ch
MONICA’S POVTruth be told, I had forgotten all about the beach house, maybe because it reminded me of my mom so much and I didn’t want to wallow in the pain longer. I stopped going to her room, I had everything connected to her packed off from my reach and just let her lived in my heart instead.She was always insisting that I know how to take care of myself because of a situation where she would not be around but I didn’t get all she was saying until she finally passed away.“I don’t know if I’m strong enough to face this” I mumbled as I puffed out the pent up air in my lungs.Immediately I got there, I ran inside as if she was there waiting for me in person and I didn’t come to my senses until disappointment coupled with reality slapped me in the face.“What was I thinking? What was I even expecting?” I sighed as I sank into the lemon sofa by my right.I had to catch my breath for a bit before I stood up to look around. Every corners I hid in back then whenever we were playing catc
By the time we rushed into the bathroom, she had collapsed to the side and was holding unto one of the stands in the bathroom for support.“Fcking Christ!” Monica spat out and I rushed forward to help her up“Irene! Can you hear me? Can you stand up?” I called out desperately to her as I helped her to her feet.The maid was swift enough to push the emergency button and her attending doctor rushed in with immediate effect. She was attended to immediately and several drugs and injections were administered to her to keep her calm.“What’s wrong with her? Is she getting worse? Should we be concerned?” Monica asked, her eyes getting damped with tears“She upgraded her treatment today so her system has not gotten used to this kind of treatment. There’s nothing to be afraid of but she needs to be taken care of and leave to rest very well so her system can get used to it” the doctor told them and a sigh of relief dropped from Petals’ lips.“Let’s hope for the best” Petals chipped in but Monic